The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-01
THE BRINK OF DESPAIR.

THE BRINK OF DESPAIR.
II can't help people admiring me,
can |, you unreasonable fellow?"
Geraldine Cleve gave her head Il
pretty little defiant motion as she
spoke.
And Jonas Cleve could not but own
to himself that it would have been
rather difficult task to control the
current of popular admiration, as he
stood looking at his beautiful young
wife.
She was twenty-one, but she looked
scarcely sixteen upon the stage, in her
floating tulle dress, with slender bands
Of gold round her tiny ankles, and
rose garlands dangling from her hair.
For Mrs. Cleve was neither more nor
less than dancer at the Shakespeare
Theatre.
The elegant leader of society may
elevate her aristocratic nose at the
slender shawled figure entering the
stage door, as her glttering carriage
rolls by. but we question if the truer
and more tender heart be not oftener
found beneath the shabby stage finer
Geraldine bad earned her own and
her parents living by the light evolu-
tions of her fairy foot, ever since she
was ten years old; as good, and true.
and noble hearted Il young creature
as ever bounded before the footlights.
And now that she was married to
the young lawyers clerk down town.
she still remained on the stage, con-
trary to his most earnest entreates
aud expostulat;ons.
Just year or two longer, Jonas,
DEAR" she said. ''until we save money
enough to buy US little cottage some
where in the suburbs and furnish it as
we want"
And Jonas Cleve Yielded to her
pretty coaxing solicitations. although
it was against his own better judg-
ment.
But it was not pleasing to go night
after night. only to see other men star
ing at his wife, and listen, unwillingly
enough, to their comments, aud Jonas
Cleve had been gradually growing dis
satisfied with this arrangement.
81 cannot stand it any longer,
Gerryr was his exclamation, one
evening, as he walked home with her
from the theatre, her bright spangled
robes all covered beneath sober
black alpaca skirt and water proof
cloak. "What made you take the bou-
quet that that puppy Middleworth
tossed on the stage?"
..Why shouldn't II" demanded Ger
aldine demurely. II am sure the
flowers were very pretty"
He has thrown you bouquet
every evening for week"
s.Well, what thenp" laughed Geral-
dine. 81 like flowers, and l can't af-
ford to buy them myself"
'sBut, Geraldine--"
And then it was that the little dan
sea1se stopped in the light of gas
lamp which they happened to be pass
ing. and made the saucy little speech
which 10 chronicled at the beginning
OF our sketch:
81 can't help people admiring me,
can I, you unreasonable fellow"
But the husbands face. in the yellow
lamp light, looked unnaturally stern
aud fixed.
Geraldine" he said gravely, .'my
wife must not receive the miscella-
neous homage of every brainless fop
like young Middleworth!"
THAT is nonsense, Jonasw
'.Is it." His brows contracted until
they seemed to form black line across
his forehead. 81 choose to think 9th
erwise. You must accept no more
flowers from that young man. like
to see the bouquets rain down around
you, as a tribute to your skill and mer-
its, but when it comes to n regular Of
fering, night after night, from some
one person, aud lie profiigate scamp,
whose admiration is an honor to no
woman--
.Jonas!'
Il am only speaking the truth. Ger
aldine."
..And what will you do to me if
am bold enough to dare the awful
peril of your anger?" laughed Geral-
dine. ''Shall you shut me up in a
walled tower, like the princeSses of
old, OF land me on desert island, in
habited only by seagulls and scream
ing eaglese"
HDo not speak so, Geraldine; this is
no jesting matter.
She pouted at his stern tone, and,
almost for the first time in their mar
ried life. slight. but very percepti-
BILE cloud darkened over the domestic
horizon. Jonas Clevs thought that
Geraldine was tlippant, and Geraldine
thought her husband unreasonable and
cross.
How lovely the young dansease
looked the next night, when she glided
upon the stage in dress of green and
silver. with silver wings seeming to
fioat over her head! How light her
movements were, and instinct with the
poetry of motion! Even Jonas. accus-
toned as he was to the beautiful sight,
felt his heart throb with rapid beats
A burst of applause rose up from
the audience. with one accord, as she
curtsied low ut the end of her brilliant
pas seal, and among the shower OF
flowers which fell all around her on
the stage, a wreath of white rosehuds
tied with snowy ribbon was the pret'
test Of all.
A pretty little actress, who stood
leaning against the wing waiting fol
fhsr part to begin, ran forward and
placed it, like a crown, ON Geraldine'a
s2nny hair, ap3 at the moment 9 s@ss' @